Wire-stretcher



Patented out. la, |898 ATENT OFFFICE.

ZENAS ALBERT CURTIS, OF HANSFORI), TEXAS.

WIRE-STRETGHER.

`S1?ECIIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,661, dated October 18, 18,98. Application filed July 2| 1898.` Serial No. 685,061.' (No model.)

To all" whom itn may concern:

Be it known that I, ZENAs ALBERT CURTIS,

of Hanst'ord, in the county of Hansford and` State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVireSti-etchers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, cleaigfand exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertai-ns to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersof reference marked thereon,which form part of this speciiication.

My invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in wire-stretchers.

The object of the invention is to provide a stretcher simple, cheap, and durable of construction, composed of a minimum'number of parts, and exceedingly quick and efficient in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire-stretcher that may be stationed at any point along the line of fence to construct, v

tighten, or splice loose orbroken strands.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for holding the wire taut while .the stretchingdever is taking up additional slack preparatory to further stretching of the wire.

To these and further ends the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combination of parts more fully de-` scribed hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved wire-stretcher in operative position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the two members of a clamping-block, and Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the detached members of the wireclamps. i

Referring to the letters on the drawings, ci indicates the fence-post, and b fencewires stretched and secured to the post.

c indicates the frame of my stretcher, which consists of a standard of suitable size, shape, and material, provided with an anchor or securing-pin d, adjustably secured to one side of the frame by beari`ng-bands e. The anchor is designed to be driven into the ground and `the frame is adjusted vertically to bring its y pivoted in a bracket 7c upon the'standard and provided with a beak l, extending into the grooves of the roller t'.

m indicates a long stretching-lever pivoted `at its upper end within the groove f and pro- 1vided with aproj ection n, to each side of which `are secured clamping-blocks 0, having L- shaped ledges p, and eccentrically-pivoted clamps @having longitudinal ledges, between which and the ledges j) the flexible ropes or chains r, passing between the rollersh and over the roller i, are designed to be clamped.4

sindicatos a pair of wire-clamps having corru gated j aws secured at the outer ends of the ropes or chains r and designed to be employed in a manner hereinafter described. These clamps are provided with somewhatfenlarged ends u and handles o, having apertures there in, the said ends being provided `with rear wardly-opening recesses w, in which are jourh naled small antifriction-rollers y.

a indicates lateral ledges along one side of each of the ends u, and Z7 indicatesclampinglevers pivoted to the clamp abovesaid ledges and designed to clamp the wires thereupon.

In praftice if it is desired to string a wire leader or strand one end is secured to a post, and a second post is planted at a proper disl `tance to give a fence-panel of the required length. My stretcher is then placed upon the side of the second post. The wire `and the stretchingdever having been elcvated,the free ends of the ropes or chains r are secured to the clamping-blocks o by the clamps q. The clamp s is then passed around one side of the post and is attached to wire adjacent to its end. The stretching -lever m is then depressed and the slack of the wire is taken up. The holding-lever will now bear upon the rope orchain passing over the roller 'L' with suiiicient pressure to hold the Wire while the lever m is elevated. The depression of the lever m will cause the Wire to be properly stretched, and it may be stapled to the post in the usual manner.

If it is desired to. splice a broken wire, the device may be properly positioned at the break by sticking the anchor dinto the ground, and the clamps s having been connected to the adjacent ends the depression of the lever m will d raw them together to permit of their being twisted together or otherwise connected. In like manner the slack of a stringer or leader may be taken up by extending the clamps s upon opposite sides of the post and engaging the wires in the recess w and against the rollers y. The .actuation of the stretching-lever will loop the slack of the wire up to V the post, to which it may be secured by a separate wire or by staples.

It Will'thus be seen that I have invented a simple and efiicient Wire-stretcher designed for fence construction or repairing which may be easily operated and which by reason of its manner of use will facilitate the stretching of wire strands in a minimum of time and y with a maximum economy of labor.

l. In a wire-stretcher, the combination with a frame, of a stretching-lever pivoted thereon and provided with clamps, rollers journaled in the frame and wire-clamps provided with ropes or chains passing over the rollers and engaged by the clamps of the lever, substantially as specified.

2. In a wire-stretcher, the combination with a frame, of a pair of horizontal grooved rollers journaled therein, a vertical roller below the horizontal rollers, a stretchinglever provided with clamps, a pair of wire-clamps provided With ropes or chains passingbetween the horizontal rollers and over the vertical roller and clamped yto the lever and a spring-actuated holding-lever bearing against the ropes or chains as they pass over the last-named roller, substantially as specified.

3. In a wire-clamp, the combination with a handle and enlarged head provided with a lateral ledge and with a rearwardly-opening recess in one edge, of an antifriction -roller within Vthe recess and a clamping-lever pivoted above the lateral ledge, substantially as specified.

4. A Wire-stretcher comprising the frame, a stake or anchor movable on said frame, a pair of horizontal grooved rollers journaled in said frame, a stretching-lever having clamping-blocks, a pair of wire-clamps carried by ropes or chains passing between said rollers and attached to the stretching-lever by means of the said clam ping-blocks, substantially as specified.

5. A Wire-stretcher comprising the an anchor carried thereby', a stretching-lever, clamping blocks thereon, rollers in said frame, wire-clamps, ropes or chains passing between and over said rollers and attached to the stretching -lever by means of said clamping-blocks, a spring-actuated holdinglever pivoted near the top of the frame above the vertical roller and adapted to securely hold the ropes or chains carrying the wireclamps on said roller for the purpose set forth.

In testimony'that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses. v ZENAS ALBERTv CURTIS. [n s] IVitnesses:

WALLACE MOKAY, F. J. HOWARD.

frame, 

